Dimming the cabin lights for night landings - Why?

[Trislander]

Why are the cabin lights dimmed for landing and take-off at night? Whenever it happens the crew tell the pax that it is in accordance with night flying regulations. What are these exactly and what difference does it actually make?

Regards, Tri

[ATCO Two]

Because if you crash and have to evacuate the aircraft, your eyes will be more accustomed to the ambient light, making for more effective egress from the aircraft.

[fred peck]

So your eyes are adjusted in case of emergency.

[IRRenewal]

which is why it is really stupid to switch on the reading light and continue reading.

[RadarContact]

which presents the opportunity to take a survey on how many stupid there are on any night flight. The answer, however, is always the same: Too many...

On the other hand, the crash site is usually conveniently lighted by the inevitable huge explosion and massive fire (just read some of those witness's statements... :rolleyes: ) so why bother?

[Engineer]

IRRenewal

Surely the intensity of the reading light is a lot lower than that of the cabin lights. Hence the reason why you can use them

[Baldie Man]

Have to say that aircraft do have a tendancy to go into the ground like a dart when things go wrong. You wear the lifejacket so when archaeologists dig you up in 10'000 years time they'll think "hmmm, there was a river here". :D

;quote from Billy Connelly.

BM.

[CIV5C]

When in Australia, you will find that the cabin lights must remain ON when landing.
Being used to the Europeans dimming them, I asked a QF cabin attendant why that was: "So that the tower can see the aircraft when an accident happens".
As in: there's something on fire on the runway, let's see if we can find the cabin lights first to make sure it's an aircraft. :rolleyes:

[Baldie Man]

OK, OK, I always thought they dimmed the cabin lights so as not to detract from the aircrafts navigation lights. Over a hundred little white lights beaming through the windows *might* make it difficult for other aviators, ATC and ground maintainence crew etc to gage which way the aircraft is travelling.

Sounds reasonable no?

BM.

[reynoldsno1]

Mmmm, many years ago we were asked to simulate a night emergency in our mighty DimRon at a northern airfield in winter, including turning all out lights OFF. We duly did so, and evacuated the aircraft (sliding down the mighty flaps now at about 70 degrees!!!). After retiring to a safe distance, we found ourselves in the middle of a dark green airfield in dark green clothing dodging fire trucks and other associated vehicles. I eventually decided to sprint back to the aircraft and sat under the fuselage until all the excitement died down....

[IRRenewal]

Engineer wrote:

Surely the intensity of the reading light is a lot lower than that of the cabin lights. Hence the reason why you can use them

A white piece of paper right in front of you with a spotlight shining on it is not going to do your night vision any good me thinks and is of a higher (local) intensity than the normal cabin lights.

In fact, half the time the normal cabin lights aren't sufficient to read by, and you need the reading light if you want to read at all. Therefore, the reading light must be brighter.

Cheers

[Tinstaafl]

What UK rule or reg. specifies this?